“People do fall in love. People do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance that anyone’s got for true happiness.”
Love has always been a special feeling for us. No matter how tough your last breakup was or maybe you have completely lost faith in love- there always remains that glimmer of hope that ‘lightning might strike’. The beautiful thing about love is we never give up on it.
I have always been a sucker for good romantic movies. But not all romantic movies have the ability to satisfy us. For a movie to actually send the romantic emotions effectively, it should all be perfect – the chemistry, the songs, and even the dialogues that eventually become the movie reminders. So may it be for a cute date night or to just spend some time alone and watch a good romantic movie that will make you smile. This is a list that has been my go-to for romantic movies. Some are just pure romantic while some offer much more than just love.
You've Got Mail
Director: Nora Ephron
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“You’ve Got Mail” is a romantic comedy film released in 1998, starring Tom Hanks as Joe Fox and Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly. The movie tells the story of two people who unknowingly develop an online romance while also being business rivals in real life.
Joe Fox is the owner of a large bookstore chain called Fox Books, while Kathleen Kelly runs a small independent bookstore called The Shop Around the Corner. When Fox Books opens a new branch near Kathleen’s store, she becomes concerned about the impact it will have on her business. Meanwhile, Joe and Kathleen start corresponding anonymously via email after meeting in an online chat room.
‘You’ve got mail’ is really fun to watch especially because of the oblivious love the two characters have for each other. Tom Hanks, as always, nails his character in the movie and the chemistry of his character with Kathleen (Meg Ryan) is excellently delivered.
The Notebook
Director: Nick Cassavetes
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“The Notebook” is a romantic drama film based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The movie stars Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun and Rachel McAdams as Allie Hamilton, two young lovers whose relationship transcends social barriers and withstands the test of time.
Set in the 1940s, the story begins with Noah and Allie, who come from different backgrounds, falling deeply in love one summer in North Carolina. Despite their differences in social class, they form a passionate bond that is challenged by Allie’s wealthy parents, who disapprove of their relationship.
“The Notebook” has powerful performance and is beautifully executed. It is a celebration of never fading love.
Definitely, Maybe
Director: Adam Brooks
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“Definitely, Maybe” is a romantic comedy-drama film released in 2008, directed by Adam Brooks. The movie stars Ryan Reynolds as Will Hayes, a political consultant going through a divorce, who is asked by his young daughter Maya, about his past relationships and how he met her mother. Will decides to tell Maya the story of his romantic history but changes the names of the women involved, leaving Maya to guess which one became her mother.
The film then unfolds through a series of flashbacks to the 1990s, showing Will’s relationships with three women: Emily, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, his college sweetheart; April, played by Isla Fisher, his free-spirited colleague; and Summer, portrayed by Rachel Weisz, an ambitious journalist.
Throughout the movie, Will reflects on the ups and downs of his past relationships, including moments of happiness, heartbreak, and self-discovery. It is fun and even insightful to see the varied mature relationships Will has in his life.
About Time
Director: Richard Curtis
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Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) gets to know about a little secret from his dad (Bill Nighy) on his 21st birthday. The men in his family can travel in time. But his dad makes it clear – you can just travel in your past life. You cannot go in the future or even in the past and try to stop the World Wars.
Now when you get to know that you have this special power, what would you do? Bring in some extra time in your life to obtain money and fame? Relive the moments you mess up in life? Try to make your life into this perfect tale? Avoid regret of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities you get – may it be meeting that girl you want to spend the rest of your life with, making up with people you have somehow lost contact with, or may it be your career.
The movie does it all. Using this newfound ability, Tim decides to improve his love life and pursues Mary, whom he meets at a blind date. With the ability to redo moments and make different choices, Tim navigates various scenarios to win Mary’s heart. It is hilarious and really enjoyable to go through different scenarios of the same situation.
However, as Tim starts using his time-traveling abilities to fix problems in his own life and the lives of his loved ones, he realizes that altering the past doesn’t always lead to the perfect outcome. I would have to say that romance is just a part of this movie.
What makes the movie close to my heart is not just wondering how life would have been if I had this gift, but is actually the beautiful message it gives at the end that can be embodied in our normal life. It has become a movie I like to visit once in a while just to remind myself to cherish those little things that make this world a sweet place to live in, which our tiny mind tends to ignore in all its tensions and worries.
The Apartment
Director: Billy Wilder
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‘The Apartment’ is directed by Billy Wilder- so you know it is going to be hilarious. The story follows Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon), a lonely and ambitious insurance clerk working in a large New York City office building. To climb the corporate ladder, Baxter allows his superiors to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs.
However, Baxter’s life takes a turn when he falls for Fran Kubelik, an elevator operator in the building. Even when he pulls off the guts to ask her for a movie, she keeps him waiting outside the theatre because she meets up with one of her former lovers, who turns out to be the married Mr. Sheldrake, one of the directors at Baxter’s office.
The movie is also lifted considerably by the performances. May it be the cuteness of Fran Kubelik that is aced by Shirley MacLaine, Lemmon’s finesse in playing C.C. Baxter, or the warmth shown by Baxter’s neighbours-Dreyfuss couple.
There are movies that try so hard with all the cinematography and CGI. They get all fancy and as flashy as it gets. Then there are movies like this one- pure cinema, just natural. They do ordinary things in such an extraordinary way and grab a place in our hearts.
Your Name
Director: Makoto Shinkai
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I still remember the day when I first watched ‘Your Name’. I was excited to watch it the whole day and, in the night, it was magical. It still is one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I do not understand the lyrics, but the Radwimps songs still starts in my mind sometimes, unexpectedly, and remind me of that beautiful night.
The story revolves around Taki and Mitsuha, two teenagers who mysteriously swap bodies and lives, experiencing each other’s challenges and joys. As they navigate this surreal connection, they strive to uncover the cosmic forces at play.
To say that “Your Name” is visually striking would be a huge understatement. Shinkai has both an eye for detail and music. The atmosphere “Your Name” creates somehow feel both lived-in and magical at the same time. It has fantastic beauty but is grounded at the same time.
Your Name is much more than just a simple romance movie. There is just so much to adore in the movie- the plot, the music, the characters, or the world it portrays. The movie made me smile and got me teary many times. And that satisfying ending, I did cry but it was because I was just so happy.
She's Out Of my League
Director: Jim Field Smith
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“She’s Out of My League” is a perfect rom com. The movie follows Kirk Kettner, played by Jay Baruchel, a TSA officer at Pittsburgh International Airport who is considered average and lacks confidence in himself. One day, he meets Molly McCleish, played by Alice Eve, a successful and attractive woman who accidentally leaves her phone at the airport security checkpoint.
When Kirk returns Molly’s phone to her, she invites him out as a thank-you gesture. Surprised by her interest in him, Kirk starts dating Molly, despite his friends and family’s skepticism about their mismatched relationship. As their romance progresses, Kirk grapples with insecurities about his looks, career, and social status, fearing that Molly is “out of his league.”
“She’s Out of My League” has humor blended with genuine emotions making it an any time watchable movie.
Meet Joe Black
Director: Martin Brest
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“Meet Joe Black” stars Brad Pitt as Joe Black, a mysterious young man who is actually a manifestation of Death taking on human form, and Anthony Hopkins as William Parrish, a wealthy media mogul.
The story revolves around William Parrish, who is visited by Joe Black one night and is told that his time on Earth is coming to an end. However, Joe offers William a temporary reprieve from death in exchange for experiencing life as a mortal. William agrees to the deal, and Joe takes on the persona of “Joe Black” to spend time with William and learn about human emotions and experiences.
As Joe Black becomes acquainted with human life through his interactions with William’s family and business associates, he develops feelings for Susan Parrish, William’s daughter, played by Claire Forlani who is absolutely gorgeous in the film. The movie is much more than just a romantic movie (but the love in this movie is so tender that you can’t help but adore it). It is also about mortality and the meaning of life. The film is especially emotionally mature.
I had this heavy heart after watching the movie. Not from weariness, but because of all these emotions the movie takes you through. It is very well carried by Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani. They are the pillars of the film.
How To lose a guy in 10 Days
Director: Donald Petrie
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Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin Barry. Andie (Kate Hudson), a writer for a women’s magazine, is assigned to write an article on how to lose a guy in 10 days by exhibiting various behaviors that drive men away. At the same time, Benjamin, an advertising executive, makes a bet with his colleagues that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days to win a lucrative campaign.
Andie and Benjamin meet under false pretenses: Andie approaches Benjamin as part of her article experiment, while Benjamin pursues Andie to win his bet. Their conflicting agendas lead to humorous, chaotic situations that are really enjoyable as Andie tries to repel Benjamin while he does everything he can to win her over. Things start to change when they start to have genuine feelings for each other.
Casablanca
Director: Michael Curtiz
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I’m not quite sure if Casablanca is about love or tragedy. I guess one always follows the other.
I am pretty sure you have heard Casablanca to be the greatest romantic movie ever made. But there is so much more about the plot. Romance is there at the heart of the movie but the background and the environment in which story develops becomes a part of the plot.
Set during World War II, the story follows Rick Blaine, a cynical American expatriate who runs a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco. His life takes a turn when his former lover, Ilsa Lund, enters the club with her husband, Resistance leader Victor Laszlo, seeking letters of transit to escape the Nazis. A great plot needs a great script. The dialogues is what makes a movie memorable. And Casablanca has that elegance in its dialogues.
Notting Hill
Director: Roger Michell
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If someone asks me my all time favourite romantic movie. It is going to be this one. It is one of those movies that make you wonder – ‘What if something like this actually happened?’. Do you realise how exciting it would be?
“Notting Hill” stars Hugh Grant as William “Will” Thacker, a bookstore owner in the Notting Hill district of London, and Julia Roberts as Anna Scott, a famous American actress. The story revolves around the unlikely romance that develops between Will and Anna after a chance encounter in his bookstore. Despite their different backgrounds and the challenges posed by Anna’s celebrity status, the two characters navigate their feelings for each other amidst the scrutiny of the media and the complexities of their personal lives. There is no doubt that both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts make this movie what it is, but even the supporting characters, especially Spike, they are so memorable and fun to just be around. This is a pure romantic movie, nothing bullshit silly comedy attached to it. That is what I love the most about it. It is grounded in that sense besides the fact that a guy like Thacker has a relationship with an American actress like Anna.
I’ve seen this movie multiple times and I think you would do the same once you watch it! I’ve got my favourite scenes from the movie right up my sleeves. I absolutely love it!
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